Guys,
Does anyone know if the ERR mini commander would work and fit into one of the Scale Williams 44 ton switchers? I have several to do if so.
Thanks
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A mini Commander might fit but its only rated for two amps. Stall current on those motors in parallel is greater than 5 amps. Even if you wired the motors in series you would be pushing the limit of the mini.
Pete
I used an older similar ERR board in a Rich Yoder GE 44 tonner. It also failed. There is limited heat dissipation. Small size was achieved by elimination of the aluminum heat sink.
I put the Cruise Commander Lite and full sound in the Williams 44-Ton locomotive, so there's no doubt that the Mini Commander would fit!
Williams 44-Ton Upgrade with ERR CC-Lite, Sound, & Electrocouplers
Here's one shot from the thread above where I detailed the build. The electrocouplers were by far the most difficult part of the job!
Once again Gun! You come through!
Thank You sir!
and thank you norton and mike.
Gun... I have been using Royz Trains for some time now on ERR items. He has been of great help on tips. However, I think his sight said something about no "Lite" versions available. Do you distribute ERR items as well?
Scott hasn’t been given the OK to offer Cruise Lites so John must have had that one from before. Had I a crystal ball I would have gotten more at the $35 introductory price. That type of engine is what they were designed to handle.
Pete
The CC-Lite is out of production, when they were introduced, I ordered a dozen. I actually did some beta testing of the CC-Lite before they hit the market, so I knew what was coming. I've used most of them in various projects. I recently bought two on the for-sale forum, one was toasted, the other was still in the bag. I repaired the toasted one, so I have a few waiting for my next small engine project. 
I think Scott said that there wasn't enough demand for the CC-Lite to justify a run, I suspect he has to order in significant quantities to meet his price targets. As a guy that uses off-shore electronics assembly, I can tell you that larger quantities translate to much cheaper assembly and component costs. I'd love to see the CC-Lite come back, but until that happens, I'm jealously guarding my small stock of them for future projects.
One thing about the CC-Lite is it's not nearly as forgiving of overloads, if you have a motor stall with the CC-Lite, it can quite quickly toast the FET motor drivers. If you aren't really quick, it will also wreck the board making repair impossible. I'm going to fit a small heatsink to my remaining CC-Lite boards with thermal epoxy to give myself a little headroom. I also install a PTC in series with the motor on any CC-Lite installation I do. That's also a good idea with the Mini Commander II if you use them for motorized units.
@Norton posted:A mini Commander might fit but its only rated for two amps. Stall current on those motors in parallel is greater than 5 amps. Even if you wired the motors in series you would be pushing the limit of the mini.
That's what the PTC is for, you are correct, it's a real issue. I cooked one of my beta test CC-Lite boards that very way.
@Crazy J RR posted:Do you distribute ERR items as well?
Sure do, if you need something, let me know.
I too have installed a CC Lite in a Williams 44 tonner and was able to keep the original WBB True Blast II (love the sound of the Cat diesel) by using another ERR discontinued product, the Sound Converter. The Cat diesel sound was a little loud and I cured it by putting a 10 ohm resistor in one of the speaker leads. Fitting it all in was a bear of a job.
Am about to do another44 tonner using a Train America Studios now discontinued TAS 1308 Whistle Controller which will mean no Cat diesel sounds but keeping the original horn sound.
I would love to see the CC Lite, the Sound Converter, and the Whistle Controller returned to the marketplace.
@modeltrainsparts posted:I would love to see the CC Lite, the Sound Converter, and the Whistle Controller returned to the marketplace.
Can't help you with the CC-Lite, but if you're energetic, you can build the Sound Converter. Jon released the code under the GNU license, and the schematics of the board are also available. I'm not sure which whistle controller you're talking about, but if it's the one that's in the Hobby Section of the ERR site, it's easy to build. Below is the clip from the Hobby Section on ERR.
The SSR specified isn't available on Digikey or Mouser any longer, but they're available from overseas sources.
Post War Whistle Controller
Used by the AC/DC Commander, this circuit will come in handy to operate your post war whistle under Command Control. A low cost, simple to construct, fun weekend project.
Teledyne Coupler Controller
Conventional control of your coil couplers. Activate the couplers on your post-war switchers with the "Horn" button!
Solid State Post War Relay Replacement
A combination of the above two projects, this is a solid state version of a whistle / horn relay. Tired of "tweaking" that relay to pull in or release? Here is your solution to a cranky relay!
GRJ, Thanks, but I'm no longer that energetic, nor are my hands that steady for soldering in confined spaces...
I'm sure that issues coming up for my hands as well, I'm just trying to pretend it'll never happen.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Can't help you with the CC-Lite, but if you're energetic, you can build the Sound Converter. Jon released the code under the GNU license, and the schematics of the board are also available. I'm not sure which whistle controller you're talking about, but if it's the one that's in the Hobby Section of the ERR site, it's easy to build. Below is the clip from the Hobby Section on ERR.
The SSR specified isn't available on Digikey or Mouser any longer, but they're available from overseas sources.
On the original ERR site was there a link to purchase the raw board to build the Sound Converter ? Some how I keep thinking there was. If not, sure would be great if someone with the skills to design boards would do so and sell a few. Hint Hint 
j
I don't know that there was ever an option to order a board, but there was a picture of the top and bottom of the PCB.
Knowing what I do now about the PIC and the board, I'd probably make a few "tweaks" to it. I also modified the code to work properly so you could use the board for fully functioning ditch lights, there were a few glitches in the operation.
One of the things I'd do is make the whole end with the TO-220 packages for the conventional sound boards smaller, after doing my testing with sound boards, the LM317 parts hardly changed temperature, so the smaller LM317 SMT parts would doubtless work just fine.
Another thing I'd do is add signal conditioning to the spare outputs to allow more flexible uses for the board.
It's on the project list, it would be slick to have those around.
As for doing all of this, just refer to my signature line.
Funny... I just made a comment to some of my local train buds after unexpectedly finding an old Lionel Yardmaster set with a DT&I switcher in it. After sitting in a super hot storage shed for many years, I pulled it out of the box, set it on the tracks and it still ran like knew. I commented, "Look at that, it still runs! Sneeze to hard now days and your electronics are all blown! What have we done?"
By the time all of my electronic locomotives have expired, I'll be worm food, so I'm not that worried.
Hey Gun, who actually owns the ERR division? Is that Lionel?
Lionel used to own ERR, and the true ownership is somewhat murky right now. 3rd Rail is licensed to produce many of the old ERR products, but as to "ownership", I suspect Lionel still has the ownership of the ERR designs and patents.
I just installed an ERR mini-commander in my Williams scale 44 tonner but want to add the PTC protection John talked about. What amperage is correct? Since the board is rated at 2 amps is that the magic number?
Terry
I'd start with a trip value of around .5 amps. If it trips too soon, you can always increase it. However, if you side it too large, you'll be looking for a new MC-II. 
John,
Do you have a source for these?
Terry
@tcripe posted:John,
Do you have a source for these?
Terry
I buy them from Digikey, here's a 500ma trip, 250ma hold one to try: https://www.digikey.com/en/pro...9985C0120A051/652074
Here's a search over a range if you find that one isn't suitable. PTC from 500ma to 1A TRIP
Wonderful. Thanks!
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd start with a trip value of around .5 amps. If it trips too soon, you can always increase it. However, if you side it too large, you'll be looking for a new MC-II.
???????
John- Is this a new replacement for the MC???? I see them listed on ERR's site.
@RSJB18 posted:John- Is this a new replacement for the MC???? I see them listed on ERR's site.
There are no more Mini Commanders or Mini Commander II's from ERR, they're permanently discontinued. However, as I have pointed out in the past, there are still a couple suitable TMCC boards for small motorized units available from Lionel Parts.
The a couple that remain in stock, the Speeder and the TrackMobile both have dual couplers and LED directional headlights. They have the same connections as the old Mini Commander 2 and drop right into that application. Not sure about the inspection truck, I haven't checked that one out.
